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From YouTube: Council Minute September 6
Description
In this week’s Council Minute Mayor Tim Busse discusses school resource officers in Bloomington, economic development and answers your questions about Bloomington Forward, centered around the proposed community health and wellness center.
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A
Hello
Bloomington
I'm
mayor
Tim
Bussey,
and
this
is
the
council
minute
for
the
week
of
September
4th
I
hope
you
all
had
a
great
long
weekend.
We
didn't
have
a
council
meeting
this
week
because
of
the
holiday,
but
there
are
three
things
that
I
want
to
catch.
You
up
on
today.
You've
likely
seen
news
reports
recently
that
a
number
of
law
enforcement
agencies
across
the
state
have
made
the
decision
to
stop
providing
school
resource
officers
to
their
local
school
districts.
A
Very
simply,
the
new
law
is
concerning
it
best
and
across
the
state.
A
number
of
groups
and
individuals
are
calling
for
immediate
action
to
clarify
the
confusing
nature
of
the
law.
I've
spoken
with
Chief
Booker
Hodges
about
this,
and
he
and
Bloomington
schools,
superintendent,
Dr,
Eric
Melby,
have
been
in
constant
communication.
A
A
Sometimes
officers
not
assigned
to
a
school
May
respond
to
to
a
situation
that
the
SRO
is
not
able
to
respond
to
due
to
the
recent
law.
Passage
leadership
and
staff
in
both
the
Bloomington
Police
Department
and
Bloomington
Public
Schools
are
keeping
a
very
close
eye
on
this
issue
as
the
school
year
gets
underway.
Both
the
city
and
the
school
district
will
provide
updates
as
needed
later
this
week,
I'll
be
attending
the
53rd
annual
conference
of
the
midwest
U.S
Japan
Association.
A
The
state
of
Minnesota
has
a
long
time
relationship
with
the
group
and
with
the
Japanese
business
sector,
and
this
year
Governor
Tim
Walls
specifically
invited
Bloomington
to
participate.
The
meeting
is
in
Tokyo
and
the
Minnesota
delegation
will
also
be
going
to
Osaka
and
we'll
be
making
a
stop
in
Izumi
bloomington's
sister
city,
some
quick
background.
The
midwest
U.S
Japan
Association
is
comprised
of
10
member
states
in
the
Midwest
and
they've
been
doing
this
since
1967..
A
Thousands
of
people
who
were
not
aware
of
us
before
now
know
what
we
have
to
offer
with
the
awareness
raising
work,
we've
done
and
with
some
substantial
projects
that
are
making
their
way
through
the
pipeline.
We're
demonstrating
bloomington's
commitment
to
boost
manufacturing
and
diversify
our
economy.
A
We've
built
up
some
good
momentum
and
being
part
of
the
governor's
delegation
at
the
midwest
U.S
Japan
association
meeting
will
help
us
continue
that
momentum,
our
city
council
and
the
Port
Authority
have
been
pursuing
projects
to
make
Bloomington
into
a
hub
of
high-tech
Manufacturing.
In
just
the
past
couple
of
weeks,
we
finalized
an
agreement
with
sick,
a
German
company
to
expand
its
North
American
headquarters.
Here
in
Bloomington,
we
also
passed
a
resolution
in
support
of
an
application
by
polar
semiconductors
for
funding.
A
Through
the
chips
and
science
act,
you
may
have
seen
the
Star
Tribune
article
about
polar
semiconductors
application
in
late
August.
The
article
talks
at
length
about
bloomington's
concentrated
and
thoughtful
efforts
to
bolster
our
high-tech
sector,
an
industry.
Frankly
that
has
been
around
in
Bloomington
for
more
than
50
years.
It's
a
good
strategy
or
as
Peter
frosh
CEO
of
The
Economic
Development
Group.
Greater
MSP
was
quoted
as
saying
it's
smart
to
build
on
your
base.
That's
what
Bloomington
is
doing.
A
Both
sick
and
polar
are
internationally
owned
companies.
It
speaks
volumes
to
other
Global
corporations
who
are
looking
to
locate
a
business
or
expand
operations
in
the
United
States
when
they
see
a
German
and
a
japanese-owned
company
firmly
established
strongly
supported
and
thriving
here
in
Bloomington.
The
work
we've
done
to
raise
bloomington's
profile
and
the
international
business
stage
and
the
work
we're
doing
to
support
our
existing
high-tech
businesses
puts
Bloomington
in
a
strong
position,
as
our
economy
becomes
even
more
diverse
and
globalized.
Now
it's
time
to
answer
your
questions
about
Bloomington
forward.
A
The
long-term
investment
plan
that,
if
approved
by
voters,
would
support
three
major
Community
projects
for
Better,
Health,
Wellness,
Athletics,
Recreation
and
improved
natural
areas
on
November
7th
Bloomington.
Voters
will
consider
a
half
percent
local
option
sales
tax
to
finance
155
million
dollars
in
bonds
to
pay
for
the
projects
as
part
of
a
city-wide
referendum.
The
questions
on
this
Fall's
ballot
will
ask
voters
about
the
following
projects.
A
Ballot
question
number
one
asks
voters
about:
building
a
new
Community,
Health
and
Wellness
Center
to
replace
the
outdated
Creekside,
Community
Center
and
Bloomington
Public
Health
Building
ballot.
Question
number
two
asks
voters
whether
they
would
approve
renovating
the
50-year-old
Bloomington
Ice
Garden,
including
new
refrigeration
and
mechanical
systems,
improved
Ada
accessibility,
a
new
roof
and
additional
improvements
to
improve
guest
experience
and
ballot.
Question
number
three
asks:
voters
about:
enhancing
and
protecting
The
Nine
Mile,
Creek
Corridor
and
Moyer,
and
Central
Park
with
restored
Riverbanks
habitat
protections,
improved
trails
and
new
park
amenities
to
support
outdoor
recreation.
A
This
week's
frequently
asked
questions
are
centered
around
a
proposed
Community,
Health
and
Wellness
Center.
The
first
question
is
what
would
be
in
a
Community
Health
and
Wellness
Center.
If
this
project
is
approved,
the
Community,
Health
and
Wellness
Center
would
support
a
wide
range
of
recreational
fitness
and
health
activities,
since
it
would
be
significantly
larger
than
the
current
Creekside
and
public
health
buildings
combined.
More
recreational
amenities
could
be
added
possible.
Amenities
include
gymnasiums,
a
walking
Track,
a
pool,
indoor
playground,
multi-purpose
rooms
and
exercise
spaces.
A
If
this
project
is
approved
by
voters,
there
will
be
a
significant
amount
of
public
engagement
to
inform
the
design
and
use
of
the
facility.
Our
next
question
is:
would
there
be
membership
dues
or
user
fees
at
the
Community
Health
and
Wellness
Center?
That
would
depend
on
the
type
of
activity
most
City
run.
A
Community
centers
have
a
mix
of
monthly
and
annual
membership
fees,
as
well
as
daily
and
weekly
passes
for
use
of
their
fitness,
centers
pools
and
gymnasiums
to
ensure
accessibility
fees
may
include
a
sliding
fee
scale
and
variable
pricing
for
programs,
depending
on
a
customer's
ability
to
pay.
Generally,
all
of
the
fees
in
community
centers
go
toward
the
cost
of
operations.
And,
finally,
if
the
Community,
Health
and
Wellness
Center
project
is
approved,
when
can
the
public
provide
input
about
the
facility's
design?
A
If
the
project
is
approved,
an
architect
would
be
hired
in
early
2024
and
Community
engagement
would
begin
shortly.
Thereafter,
I'll
be
answering
a
couple
of
questions
each
week,
leading
up
to
election
day
so
be
sure
to
tune
in
next
time
for
more
answers
to
your
frequently
asked
questions
in
the
meantime,
there
is
much
more
information
on
the
website.